Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose. Chapter 28: Priceless

Leilani.

The first thing I noticed when Jarek and I stepped into the restaurant we wanted to have lunch was a couple sitting at a far corner of the restaurant with their arms wrapped around each other and their faces so close, anyone would think they were about to kiss.

My eyebrows shot up as I then turned to Jarek who imdiately whispered; "Do you want to leave?"

But I was insanely hungry.

As if to buttress my point, my stomach growled loudly, earning a small smile from Jarek. "We can ignore them." I muttered, looking away from Jarek to point at a table that was the furthest away from the couple.

We quietly walked through the dimly lit space to the table I’d pointed at, but as soon as I began to sit down on the chair that Jarek had pulled out for , I noticed two pairs of eyes already watching us.

Ignore them.

Ignore them.

Ignore them.

I chanted in my head as I lowered my gaze, but sothing about the glint I’d caught in Chalice’s eyes instantly made my blood run cold. She wasn’t about to ignore , that I knew damn well. I could see it in the way her lips curved, and in the way she waved ever-so-discreetly at .

"Ma’am, what would you like to have?" A sharp feminine voice however suddenly snapped out of my reverie and I looked up just in ti to et the hostile gaze of a young waitress.

For a mont, I was stunned... lost for words. Unsure as to why her first reaction to would be hostility.

Or is this how hostile everyone is around here?

Jarek leaned closer then, closing his hand over mine. His voice was soft when he mumbled; "The nu, Sweetcakes. What would you like to have?"

I could not ascertain if it was my mind playing tricks on or sothing, but when Jarek held so affectionately, the waitress’ gaze darkened even more.

I coughed slightly. "Just give a Wagyu beef cheeseburger topped with caralized onions, so cheddar, smoked bacon, and truffle aioli on a brioche bun."

"Is that all?" This ti it was Jarek who asked and I shook my head before continuing;

"Add so parsan-truffle fries on the side. And a glass of iced tea."

"Okay." She nodded, then to Jarek, she asked with a bright smile; "Gentleman, what would you like to have?"

"Sa thing as the lady." He answered without a second’s hesitation and waved her off when she stood rooted in place, as if stunned that she’d been so casually brushed off.

I watched her stomp away in amusent, but my high spirits didn’t last because next minute, I noticed Chalice and her partner, Kael, walking over to us with smiles on their faces— smiles that even a blind man could see didn’t reach their eyes.

My face fell. And Jarek instantly noticed because then he asked; "What is it?"

However, I hadn’t even gotten the opportunity to respond when Chalice’s sugary voice filled the air. She greeted; "Leilani... Alpha Frostclaw, it’s so nice to see you both here! Are you also here for lunch?"

"Of course!" Jarek mumbled under his breath but I heard him. I was sure Chalice did too because then she tilted her head to the side and bead a blinding smile at Jarek, saying; "I can assure you that this is a coincidence!"

I frowned but said nothing to her. Instead, I busied myself with my phone whilst ignoring the way Kael’s deep eyes drilled literal holes into my skin.

"Yes, we’re here for lunch." Jarek answered coldly, ignoring her other statents, then looking up at Kael, he curtsied. "Alpha Stormborn, fancy eting you here."

"It’s a pleasure to et you again." Kael answered with more enthusiasm than Jarek. "How has Pennsylvania been treating you?"

"Fine." Jarek responded casually. "Very fine. Thank you."

"You see, yesterday was so eventful, my brothers and I hardly got enough ti to get acquainted with you as much as we’d wanted to. Also, there is sothing I would’ve loved to discuss with you."

"Oh," Jarek exclaid softly. "And what might that be?"

My anger flared when Chalice, even without being invited, plopped into the chair beside mine. She leaned forward with a smile and drawled; "Business, Alpha Frostclaw. That’s what it is about."

Of course, that was what all of this was about.

Jarek was all they cared about, not .

Never .

However, for so reason, I was glad that today, she didn’t try to feign closeness with as she had done yesterday. She didn’t even act like she knew at all, and kept all of her attention drawn to Jarek who silently eyed the space between both of us before lifting his cold gaze to et hers.

She smiled nervously.

"Alpha Stormborn, I’ll fix an appointnt with you when we return to New York. But for now, I am with my companion and cannot entertain matters like this right now."

It was at that mont that Chalice, probably suddenly rembering that I ’still exist’ turned to with a smile. She exclaid; "We can all eat together. You both might be business partners in the future, and Leilani here is my twin sister!"

She held my arm affectionately whilst staring between Jarek and I, and if I didn’t know any better... if I was just soone watching from the outside, I would’ve thought that the smile splitting her face in halves was genuine.

But I knew better.

This was just her milking this whole ’twin’ situation in order to get closer to Jarek.

If only she knew.

"Ms Sinclair and I are also here to discuss business." Jarek seethed, barely able to hide the annoyance in his voice and at that, Chalice’s hands dropped from mine. "...and private matters."

Kael too turned to look at . "Private matters?"

He looked stunned. And for so stupid reason, hurt too. But I didn’t respond. His reaction made even angrier.

I didn’t look at them. "Yes."

When the strange waitress returned just then with our food, I couldn’t even find the appetite to eat or appreciate it any more. I simply nodded.

Jarek was the one to respond to Kael. He drawled; "Yes, private matters, Alpha Stormborn. She’s my woman." And then he turned to Chalice with a frown; "You say she’s your twin sister, and you do not know that?"

She blanched and I almost laughed when her face turned a bright shade of red. "I didn’t... I do not... we’ve not—"

"That’s because we’re not siblings, Jay." I quickly cut in, ignoring the embarrassed flush on her face and the way Kael’s eyes hardened with contempt. "...we’re not related. I don’t even know her."

"But Leilani—"

"It is Ms Sinclair to you now," I snapped, forcing all the bite I could muster into my voice. Now, with her incessantly pestering like so insect, I had totally lost my appetite.

My cutleries clattered to the table as I rose slowly, my gaze fastened on hers as I drawled; "We’re not family, Ms Blackthorne, and I would appreciate it if you stop going around with that narrative."

Chalice’s eyes reddened as soon as the words left my mouth, and as usual tears began to flow free. "I know you’re mad at for everything that happened in the past. But it’s been four years, sister—"

"Four years since I stopped being a Blackthorne." I spat, interrupting her. "Now, if you don’t stop showing your two-faced self everywhere I go, I’ll have no choice but to slam you with so charges."

Chalice gasped. Even Kael stared at like he couldn’t quite recognize .

Well, sa.

Enraged, I picked up my phone and turned to Jarek. "I’ll be leaving now, Jay," I said softly, "...thank you for the food."

However, I had just taken a step when I suddenly rembered sothing vital. I turned to Chalice. "Also, you’ve not reimbursed for ruining my dress last night, so I’ll ask my lawyer to call you to discuss the details."

Her jaw dropped.

And the expression on hers and Kael’s faces was utterly... priceless!

Jarek, unable to hide his smile anymore, quickly rose to his feet. Without a word, he placed so cash onto the table, walked up to , looped his arm around mine and whispered; "I should drop you off."

"Okay."